away from Lily.”
“You’re a fucking genius,” he grunted.
Jason’s house was less than one mile away from the popular South Beac h. The temptation to go there instead and demand an
explanation from Lily would be too tempting. His friends knew him well. Resting
his head against the cushion of the seat, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the
fresh morning air.
“Has it occurred to you she just doesn’t want to do this anymore?”
“She still wants me,” he answered
without opening his eyes.
Forrest snorted. “I mean, has it
occurred to you she might want more? You know, a meaningful relationship with love,
stability, and a real car?”
“Then she sh ould
say so.”
“Except you don’t want those
things.”
Adam slid his friend a sideways look.
“What’s your point?”
“What if she wants to take your
relationship to the next level? Would you give it to her?”
He pondered Forrest’s question. The
possibility that she might want something more
between them had not crossed his mind. When they started whatever it was they
were doing, both had made it clear nothing serious was their only option.
“I don’t do
marriage,” he muttered, “and neither does she.”
“Who said anyt hing
about marriage?”
“We both
decided what this was. If she wants to change the rules she should tell me.”
“But you probably wouldn’t want to
continue playing.”
“Is this the part where I point out that she’s the one who doesn’t want to play
anymore?”
“No, this is
the part you acknowledge that I’m brilliant.”
“Or maybe a pain in my ass. By the way, Claire is
coming to town. Are you guys going to give in to the tension and start
fucking?” He purposefully turned the spotlight on Forrest, giving his friend a
t aste of his own medicine.
Forrest grunted and killed the ignition.
“You look like shit.”
“Thanks. Tell me something I don’t know.”
“The bags under your eyes are quite a delectable shade of
purple. What brand is that?”
“Insomnia.”
“Nice. Gotta
try that some time. Tough night?”
Adam shrugged. “I’ll eventually sleep again.”
“I can … ”
“No drugs.”
“Actually, I was going to say have you
thought about facing your demons?” When Adam didn’t answer, Forrest slapped his
shoulder. “Come on, big boy, let’s go release som e
frustration.”
* * * *
Adam’s legs were shredded from two hours
battling strong ocean waves. For two days, he had pushed himself and his body
paid the price. But instead of feeling tired, the achiness energized him, a good thing too because he
had a bus y week ahead with the Food and Wine
Festival.
He took slow easy strides down the path leading to the back
of the restaurant he opened five years ago. The Wharf’s Side was ideally
situated half a mile from the port of Menemsha, and a short walk to the public
beach. He took pride in hiring the best chef f or this
venture and partnering with Forrest’s parents for a farm to table approach,
allowing the restaurant to always serve the freshest produce in season. The
move turned out to be a success. The Wharf’s Side was now well established as
one of the must pl aces to eat
when on the island.
He walked over to the edge of the dock, rubbed his hands
together for warmth. The distinct crispness of the air sparked interest in
lighting a fire and watching the sun set over the yellow, orange and red trees
with Lily. Th ey had done exactly that a year ago. The
night had ended perfectly with her riding him until he exploded. The memory
made him shiver with need. An empty feeling settled in his stomach. He wasn’t
shocked by how much he wanted her; he’d accepted that fact a long time ago. Still, he shook his head at the memory and
brushed any thought of her aside.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. His
first thought directed to Lily. He extracted the phone quickly and glanced at
the international number flashing on the screen. He
dismissed the pang of disappointment and
“You’re a fucking genius,” he grunted.
Jason’s house was less than one mile away from the popular South Beac h. The temptation to go there instead and demand an
explanation from Lily would be too tempting. His friends knew him well. Resting
his head against the cushion of the seat, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the
fresh morning air.
“Has it occurred to you she just doesn’t want to do this anymore?”
“She still wants me,” he answered
without opening his eyes.
Forrest snorted. “I mean, has it
occurred to you she might want more? You know, a meaningful relationship with love,
stability, and a real car?”
“Then she sh ould
say so.”
“Except you don’t want those
things.”
Adam slid his friend a sideways look.
“What’s your point?”
“What if she wants to take your
relationship to the next level? Would you give it to her?”
He pondered Forrest’s question. The
possibility that she might want something more
between them had not crossed his mind. When they started whatever it was they
were doing, both had made it clear nothing serious was their only option.
“I don’t do
marriage,” he muttered, “and neither does she.”
“Who said anyt hing
about marriage?”
“We both
decided what this was. If she wants to change the rules she should tell me.”
“But you probably wouldn’t want to
continue playing.”
“Is this the part where I point out that she’s the one who doesn’t want to play
anymore?”
“No, this is
the part you acknowledge that I’m brilliant.”
“Or maybe a pain in my ass. By the way, Claire is
coming to town. Are you guys going to give in to the tension and start
fucking?” He purposefully turned the spotlight on Forrest, giving his friend a
t aste of his own medicine.
Forrest grunted and killed the ignition.
“You look like shit.”
“Thanks. Tell me something I don’t know.”
“The bags under your eyes are quite a delectable shade of
purple. What brand is that?”
“Insomnia.”
“Nice. Gotta
try that some time. Tough night?”
Adam shrugged. “I’ll eventually sleep again.”
“I can … ”
“No drugs.”
“Actually, I was going to say have you
thought about facing your demons?” When Adam didn’t answer, Forrest slapped his
shoulder. “Come on, big boy, let’s go release som e
frustration.”
* * * *
Adam’s legs were shredded from two hours
battling strong ocean waves. For two days, he had pushed himself and his body
paid the price. But instead of feeling tired, the achiness energized him, a good thing too because he
had a bus y week ahead with the Food and Wine
Festival.
He took slow easy strides down the path leading to the back
of the restaurant he opened five years ago. The Wharf’s Side was ideally
situated half a mile from the port of Menemsha, and a short walk to the public
beach. He took pride in hiring the best chef f or this
venture and partnering with Forrest’s parents for a farm to table approach,
allowing the restaurant to always serve the freshest produce in season. The
move turned out to be a success. The Wharf’s Side was now well established as
one of the must pl aces to eat
when on the island.
He walked over to the edge of the dock, rubbed his hands
together for warmth. The distinct crispness of the air sparked interest in
lighting a fire and watching the sun set over the yellow, orange and red trees
with Lily. Th ey had done exactly that a year ago. The
night had ended perfectly with her riding him until he exploded. The memory
made him shiver with need. An empty feeling settled in his stomach. He wasn’t
shocked by how much he wanted her; he’d accepted that fact a long time ago. Still, he shook his head at the memory and
brushed any thought of her aside.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. His
first thought directed to Lily. He extracted the phone quickly and glanced at
the international number flashing on the screen. He
dismissed the pang of disappointment and
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